Mandaue closes 15 businesses

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City started its crackdown on illegal businesses yesterday forcing 15 to close shop for failing to secure permits.

The closure order was signed by Mayor Jonas Cortes last March 16 and March 23, but was only enforced this week.

A team from the City Legal Office led by asst city legal officer Jamaal James Calipayan, who was accompanied by personnel from the Mandaue City Police Office as well as members of the SWAT, enforced the closure order yesterday morning.

 There were 14 small businesses that were closed, mostly eateries and small stores along M.C Briones St. in barangay Centro.

Also ordered to stop operations was Cebu Golf Academy along A.S. Fortuna St. in barangay Banilad.The permit of this establishment was revoked.

Those ordered closed were Sr. Pedro, Pepang Lomi and Batchoy, Ponpon Eatery, Abukay Tero Supply, Renants Foods and Drinks, N.B Vulcanizing, Lurbia Bbq, Paz Baker, Pido Prito, and small stores owned by Benita Dañas, Alicia Dabon, Rosita Daclan, Marite Pedrano, and Euprocino Pedrano.

Reacting to allegations that the city is only running after the small businessmen, Calipayan said that the order to close the Cebu Golf Academy is proof that nobody is spared.

In fact, Cebu Golf Academy was ordered closed last Monday yet.

 He said that their office found out that the last time that these small businesses were able to secure their permits was in the year 2000 yet.

He also said that although the golf driving range was able to secure a business permit last year, this was, however, revoked after homeowners living at Green Plains Subdivision, which surrounds the range, lodged a complaint at the city hall last year.

They alleged that despite the nets being installed by the golf driving range, balls would often still land in their yards and homes causing damage to property and physical harm.

Calipayan said that the driving range was already slapped with a closure order last year, but they learned that it did not heed their order and to stop operations.The team once again ordered it to cease operations after an inspection last Monday.

The golf driving range will only be allowed to reopen if it puts in place measures to ensure that the balls would not get past its safety nets as well as execute an affidavit of undertaking that the company will pay for damages caused by wayward balls whether to the persons hit or the structures.

Calipayan said that in the days to come more establishments that are operating without permits will also be closed.—/NLQ (FREEMAN)